Great Scott! I know, for #SpeedInSpace this is heavy.

Starts, Redshirt and Attrition Report 2019 Comment Count

Seth December 6th, 2019 at 1:46 PM

It's past The Game and nobody on the roster could currently blow a redshirt by playing in the bowl, so let's check in on who got through this season without losing a year of eligibility! A simplified version of this can be found at the Depth Chart by Class and you're all welcome to my database of Michigan players since the recruiting class of 1990. We'll go through the data, and then I'll have some graphs at the end so you can visualize this year's team against others of recent memory based on experience, size, type of player on the field, and star power.

Quarterback

Starters: Shea Patterson started all 12 games despite suffering a somewhat debilitating oblique injury on the first play of the season.

Depth Chart: Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton, in that order, were the backups. McCaffrey got some live play and even a shot at replacing Shea against Wisconsin but his injury in that game locked in Shea as the starter.

Redshirts: Cade McNamara didn't play.

Attrition/Graduation: Patterson will graduate, Milton and McCaffrey are expected to battle for the starting job next year. The loser of that battle might be a playing time transfer down the road.

[Hit THE JUMP if you like to roster!!!]

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Running Back

Starters: True freshman Zach Charbonnet started the first six games but the back half of the season saw the emergence of Hassan Haskins.

Depth Chart: After a round of fumbles early on pushed Christian Turner to the backburner. Preseason predictions of Tru Wilson starting were killed by Charbonnet's immediate emergence as a plus pass protector. By the end of the year it was Haskins, Charbonnet, Wilson, Turner. Ben VanSumeren was technically here with the fullback position eradicated early in the year. It reemerged as part of the tight ends so I'll discuss it there.

Redshirts: None. Turner played in 10 games.

Attrition/Graduation: Tru graduates but they'll get back Chris Evans next year it appears, with Blake Corum joining them. It's plausible Turner's upset with his role but it's not like any other school is going to have a spot better than fourth.

Tight End

Starters: An injury to Sean McKeon, who started all six of the nine games he was available, opened the door for Nick Eubanks to start 10 games.

Depth Chart: After the top two emerged true freshman Erick All, closely followed by Luke Schoonmaker. Mustapha Muhammad was invisible. BEN MASON returned to offense for the back end of the season in an H-back role that was technically part of the tight ends group. He was a specialty player, with Ben VanSumeren his backup. Don't call it a fullback!

Redshirts: None.

Attrition/Graduation: Sean McKeon probably could have gotten a redshirt but opted instead to declare for the NFL draft. Muhammad announced midseason he intends to transfer. That leaves Eubanks, All, and Schoonmaker for next year's rotation, with rising Matt Hibner and Shea's little brother Nick incoming.

Wide Receiver/Slot Receiver

Starters: Ronnie Bell(!) led the group with 9 starts, mostly as a slot receiver, followed by 8 apiece for Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins, six for Tarik Black, and one each for the freshmen slots Giles Jackson and Mike Sainristil.

Depth Chart: Fuzzy because Peoples-Jones began the season injured, but for most of the season it was a top three of Collins (split end), DPJ (flanker), and Bell (slot), with Bell and Black the top backups at either outside position, and Sainristil and Jackson competing closely as the backup slot. Cornelius Johnson won the job after Black. At slot the program rumor was Sainristil had hands problems, which bore out a bit during the season, but is the better route runner, while Jackson is the greater athlete.

Various walk-on contributors from the past disappeared. Jake McCurry had a broken bone in his foot in spring and that's the last we heard of him. Nate Schoenle was also injured this spring and

Redshirts: As a mostly quarterback in high school George Johnson III was a lock to redshirt. He may not even stick at receiver given the need at defensive back.

Attrition/Graduation: They lost two in the preseason: Oliver Martin transferred to Iowa at the start of the season and got his waiver, even playing against his old teammates when Iowa came to town. Quintel Kent medically retired. They could lose one or two more to the pros: No word yet on whether any of Michigan's top group will jump to the NFL. Collins has the film and DPJ the athleticism to be of interest to the NFL but both may be leaning toward staying. It would be quite the coup to keep them all.

Offensive Tackle

Starters: With the fall camp injury to Andrew Stueber, Jaylen Mayfield started all 12 games at right tackle. Ryan Hayes started the first two games at left tackle until Jon Runyan (10 starts) was healthy enough to resume his role. Runyan was All Big Ten.

Depth Chart: Clearly Hayes was the top backup after the Stueber injury, and even got on the field in rotation or as a super tight end at times. They also borrowed freshman Karsen Barnhart, their favorite up-and-coming OL prospect, who played left tackle in garbage time against MTSU and Rutgers, as well as Joel Honigford, who got some snaps at right tackle. Walk-ons Griffin Korican and Dan Jokisch got a little bit of playing time against Rutgers.

Redshirts: Horray we got 'em all! Barnhart played just two games, and both Trente Jones and Trevor Keegan didn't see the field. From coaches' comments it seems all three are on track to be starters down the line.

Attrition/Graduation: Runyan will leave a big hole but they should get back Stueber.

Guard

Starters: True seniors Ben Bredeson and Michael Onwenu started every game.

Depth Chart: Former backup center Stephen Spanellis spent the season at guard, specifically right guard, with Honigford practicing outside. Left guard during backup hour was Chuck Filiaga. We never really got to see the official third team, as walk-ons Greg Robinson (NTGR) and Griffin Korican came in during the rare garbage time. Freshman Nolan Rumler started the season expected to see the field in some capacity, but did not.

Redshirts: Both Rumler and Jack Stewart redshirted.

Attrition/Graduation: Damn all the things that Bredeson and Onwenu had to play as true freshmen since Michigan will have to replace both all-Big Ten guards next year. The upshot is everyone else will probably still around at least until the battle to replace them is settled.

Center

Starters: Cesar Ruiz started every game.

Depth Chart: The post-Stueber shift also affected us here, with former walk-on Andrew Vastardis coming in at center whenever Ruiz wasn't needed. There was some disagreement earlier this year whether Rumler or Zach Carpenter was at center, but it appears Carpenter settled into it.

Redshirts: Carpenter

Attrition/Graduation: Ruiz did not have the kind of season that would propel him onto draft boards so everyone should be back.

Defensive Tackle

Starters: Carlo Kemp started all 12 games at nose tackle, which for many games was the only tackle on the field on the first snap as Michigan went with a 3-3-5 look instead. The three games they did use a second DT on the first snap went to BEN MASON in the opener, and Michael Dwumfour twice.

Depth Chart: Dwumfour was unavailable early in the season so Donovan Jeter was the #1 real DT at the time, with MASON a sort of specialty piece. MASON was finally moved back to offense when that experiment didn't go well. Jeter was then passed by freshman Chris Hinton, who by Ohio State was basically sharing the role with Dwumfour. By Maryland Jeter was a ghost; freshman Mazi Smith was third team against Maryland. At nose, Kemp's first backup was "I'm sorry Carlo, you have to stay on the field," followed by walk-on/spring OL convert Jess Speight, and then redshirt freshman Julius Welschof.

Redshirts: Mazi Smith played in only that Maryland game so he preserved his redshirt. Mike Morris didn't play.

Attrition/Graduation: Michigan will try to get a retroactive redshirt on Carlo Kemp. Phillip Paea and spring hype leader Donovan Jeter both fell behind this year's freshmen so either or both could be gone next year. Jeter was an early enrollee so it's possible he's in line for a grad transfer after the winter semester.

Defensive End

Starters: Aidan Hutchinson started all 12 games at strongside ("Anchor"), Kwity Paye started 11 at weakside, and Mike Danna got the one (Illinois) extra.

Depth Chart: The big three rotated all season, much of which was spent in three-man lines that utilized the anchor-ness of the two starters. When we did see a third string it was Luigi Vilain at weakside end and Taylor Upshaw at anchor. It was reported that Welschof was in this mix too until he volunteered to try out tackle.

Redshirts: Both David Ojabo and Gabe Newburg did not see the field. That was expected; Ojabo came in Taco-like raw, and Newburg looks more like a skinny tight end right now.

Attrition/Graduation: Mike Danna was a one-year rental, so they'll need either Luigi Vilain to step into his role or one of the freshmen to be ready.

Inside Linebacker

Starters: Jordan Glasgow seized the WLB role and started every game. Josh Ross started the first three games at MLB until his injury, when Cam McGrone stepped in to start the last nine.

Depth Chart: McGrone was #2 at MLB and Jordan Anthony #2 at WLB to start the season, with former starter Devin Gil apparently behind both. After the injury to Ross, Anthony was at MLB and Gil was the primary backup at WLB, but there was little in the way of rotation.

Redshirts: McGrone was good enough that they held out Ross so he could get a redshirt for this year. Charles Thomas saw the field only on special teams against MTSU and MSU, so he kept his redshirt.

Attrition/Graduation: Unfortunately this is the last year of eligibility for the Glasgow family. With McGrone and Ross likely to start for threst of his eligibility, Jordan Anthony recently put his name in the portal. They could also lose the fifth year of Gil to a grad transfer or firm handshake, but that would mean the depth chart after the starters is redshirt freshman Thomas and the four true freshmen.

Outside Linebacker

Starters: Khaleke Hudson started every game at Viper. Josh Uche started 9/12 games at SAM in place of a DT.

Depth Chart: There was nobody else to play the Uche role. Michigan did steal some snaps here and there for presumptive Viper heir Michael Barrett. Clearly 3rd was Anthony Solomon, who got on the stat sheet with one tackle late against Rutgers.

Redshirts: Joey Velazquez did not play, but they burned Anthony Solomon's redshirt on special teams so he's now on the same timer as Barrett. This has been your annual MGoBlog Burning Redsirts for No Reason complaint.

Attrition/Graduation: Khaleke is out of eligibility and Uche has declared for the NFL.

Safety

Starters: With a move to a two-high these jobs were no longer really that defined but strong safety ("Rover") Josh Metellus started every game while free safety Brad Hawkins started the first ten before ceding the last two starts to five-star freshman Daxton Hill. The dime safety job was Hill's from the get-go.

Depth Chart: Hill was the primary backup at both spots. After him Michigan used Sammy Faustin at free safety and walk-on Hunter Reynolds at Rover. Walk-on Luis Grodman was next in line via the program but only the afore mentioned five played any snaps.

Redshirts: Quinten Johnson lost the whole season to injury. J'Marick Woods technically got a redshirt but he's gone.

Attrition/Graduation: J'Marick Woods entered the transfer portal mid-season, presumably after the former rotation piece (and onetime starter in 2017) realized his best shot at starting ever again would be a move to Viper. Speculation on German Green is waaaaaay too early; he's a still-growing guy who played on special teams some this year, his twin brother is moving up the depth chart, and German won a couple of Scout Team Player of the Week nods this season.

Cornerback

Starters: The miracle of the season was Ambry Thomas getting past his scary stomach issue in time to start all 12 games. Lavert Hill is the one who missed a game this season, with rotational third piece Vincent Gray starting the Illinois game. Gray was also the nickel corner this year.

Depth Chart: Other than the three primary cornerbacks, after the first few weeks Michigan was comfortable playing only Gemon Green. Talk of freshman DJ Turner popping amounted to nothing. Rather the guy after Green was former safety Jaylen Kelly-Powell, who made at-times disastrous appearances against MTSU and Maryland.

Redshirts: DJ Turner played in three games on special teams so he can play in the bowl game and preserve his redshirt. Jalen Perry did not see the field. Jaylen Kelly-Powell also kept his participation to just three games, which means he can return next year at Michigan or graduate and have two years to play (immediately) elsewhere if he chooses.

Attrition/Graduation: Lavert Hill's time is up. There's an off chance Ambry tests the NFL waters. Losing him too would be a disaster, as Michigan really didn't want to go past Gray this year. It's likely, given they have just one commit currently and the battles for the athletes they want come with tactics they're not willing to use, Michigan will be active in the grad transfer market.

Special Teams

Starters: Kicker was an odd timeshare this year between Jake Moody and Quinn Nordin, the exact details of which are too complex for even this article. The thing to know is there were not specific roles; they took turns, with three extra points counting as a turn. Will Hart was the punter all season until Brad Robbins replaced him against Ohio State. Camaron Cheeseman held onto his starting long snapper role despite grad transfer Trey Harper joining them this year from Robert Morris, and Hart was the holder except on the two-point conversion McCaffrey ran in versus Indiana.

The kick returner was Giles Jackson all year; Michael Barrett's one return was a short kick. Donovan Peoples-Jones was the punt returner; when he was out early in the season it went to Ronnie Bell.

Khaleke Hudson completed his career (minus bowl game) as the greatest punt blocker in modern Michigan history.

Depth Chart: I already mentioned the kicking, punting, and holding situations, and backup punt returner. I'll add Mike Sainristil and Lavert Hill got some punt return shots, and Sainristil was listed as the next guy on kickoff returns.

Experience Graph

This was actually one of the younger teams Michigan has fielded since Bo, even without accounting for younger backups of various veterans. The number at the top of each bar here is the average year at Michigan, with the proportion provided by each position group broken off into colors.

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We can see this another way as the percentage of starts by class:

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This shows a much bigger difference between this year, when there was a reasonable mix of upperclassmen and kids, versus the infamous 2017 season when half the guys on the field hadn't been on campus for a year. It was, however, another very small proportion of fifth years, with the same proportion of teenagers on the field as during the Rich Rod years.

I think this is probably more representative of what things will be like under Harbaugh, even if we are still on the tail end of the 2016 rebuild. If you pulled these graphs for Ohio State they'd look even younger. Players expect to play early, and have more transfer options these days. That's good for the players, who used to get stuck on the bench when another school could badly use them, and I don't begrudge it. But it does mean Michigan's going to have to keep adapting to it, either by recruiting more advanced high schoolers (fortunately another shift in recent years) or by playing the transfer market more aggressively. This they've done somewhat—you'll note they've upped their recruiting from places like Georgia and recruit from IMG and other power programs where high schoolers are getting a higher level of coaching. They've also used transfers more; this year the starting quarterback as well as an important rotation defensive end came from other programs.

Size

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Big offensive line again, but the #SpeedinSpace didn't bring the skill position mix anywhere close to the Rich Rod lows. A lot of that was the backs—Charbonnet and Haskins are quite big—but Michigan also kept using a lot of two-TE sets all season. And it's not like their receivers are that tiny.

I thought the front seven averages were interesting—I include nickels in there but it shows the mix of weight on the field hasn't changed that much as it's shifted. This year was a relative low thanks to the small defensive line and linebackers.

Offensively…

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I tried to order this graph with the heavier positions on top and the spread positions on the bottom. This year had zero fullback starts, with more use of their wide receivers. I noted a difference between using, say, Ronnie Bell (a receiver) and Giles Jackson/Sainristil (slots) because their roles are different. This was less a return to Rich Rod's formations than the late-Carr mix. The slot bugs got about as much play as Calvin Bell used to.

Star Power

While I had the graph open I thought I would take a look at the star power on the field. As before these are proportional representations of the relative recruiting rankings (my composite of 24/7, Rivals, ESPN, etc. over the years) for every season for which I have complete data. Obviously this isn't a performance metric, since the peaks don't coincide with great years. However it's a new way of looking at recruiting, based on how much star power you're both acquiring and then putting on the field:

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Harbaugh did an amazing job to get this metric back to where it was in the early Carr years, but you do see the dip this year, particularly in the defensive line, where Rashan Gary (4.98), Chase Winovich (3.89) and the combo of Bryan Mone (4.20) and Aubrey Solomon (4.85) were replaced with Aidan Hutchinson (4.41), Kwity Paye (3.69) and the combo of Josh Uche (3.63) and Mike Dwumfour (3.52).

Comments

isai

December 6th, 2019 at 2:21 PM ^

Nice write up.  Given the age of the team overall, I am hopeful for the next couple of years.  Sadly, Justin Fields cannot go pro this year.

MGoStrength

December 6th, 2019 at 2:34 PM ^

True, but I'm assuming a slew of juniors are entering the draft.  Without the likes of Dobbins and the majority of their defense I like our chances better if we can stay healthy.  Fields and their young WRs are still talented and their o-line is still going to match up well against our d-line, but hopefully Hutchinson, Hinton, Dax, McGrone, Thomas, Gray, etc. are able to make some jumps in their development and someone like Vilain can replace Uche's pass rush production.  I'm sure their sophomores next year like Harrison, Wilson, NPF, etc. will be ready to contribute, but I don't think any of them are ready to be at the level of the guys they are replacing.  Our offense should continue to evolve.  I like next year's game to be closer than this years even if it still seems likely to be a loss.

MarcusBrooks

December 9th, 2019 at 1:42 PM ^

our interior D line has got to make MAJOR improvements or we are no further ahead, ANY RB can run through holes they made in our Dline. Wisky is undersized and did better than we did

MGoStrength

December 6th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^

Am I reading the tea leaves for next year's starters correctly?

 

QB: McCaffrey

RB: Haskins/Charbonnet

LT: Hayes

LG: Filiaga

C: Ruiz

RG: Wide open...Spanellis, Rumler, Barnhart, Carpenter maybe?

RT: Mayfield

TE: Eubanks

WR: Collins/DPJ

WR: DPJ/Black

WR: Bell/Sainristill/Jackson

 

SDE: Hutchinson

DT: Kemp

NT: Dwumfor/Hinton

WDE: Paye

LB: Ross

LB: McGrone

Viper: Barrett

CB: Thomas

CB: Gray

FS: Hill

SS: Hawkins

 

Main Questions

Will anyone develop as an edge rusher to replace Uche?  Villain?

Which current true freshman o-lineman is likely to become a starter next year and where?

Will Mazi Smith be ready to contribute to help in against the Wiscy's & OSU's of the world in 2020?

 

This looks good for another 10-ish win season with coin flip games against Washington, Wiscy, and PSU, but I like our chances in each of those.  The depth also looks very thin at a lot of defensive positions.

 

 

ScooterTooter

December 6th, 2019 at 2:28 PM ^

So it comes down to:

Progression from Haskins/Charbonnet

McCaffrey being a McCaffrey

Spanellis, Filiaga and Hayes giving the team...80%? 90%? of what their predecessors gave in ability

In my opinion, at least one of DPJ/Collins coming back. 

There's your 50+ ppg offense. Can they cut the mistakes and hang it on the Buckeyes?

The Oracle 2

December 6th, 2019 at 2:34 PM ^

This round up once again highlights the significant talent gap between Michigan and OSU. Depending on who stays, the receivers might be excellent and we know the running backs will be good. The rest of the groups range from cautious optimism to uh oh. Meanwhile, OSU is playing this year with three legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates on the roster, one of whom will be returning, along with a ton of their very talented players.

Also, I was just looking at a list of the schools with the most players in the NFL. Alabama led with 56 and OSU was second with 44. The other a Big 10 schools on the list were PSU and Wisconsin, who tied for 10th with 26. Michigan wasn’t in the top 15. If you think the difference in the rivalry has been coaching, you’re mistaken.

outsidethebox

December 6th, 2019 at 3:29 PM ^

A significant difference has included coaching. OSU has had both a significant talent advantage and a coaching advantage. An increase in talent coming to Michigan is not going to happen unless and until the coaching catches up-and even then it will be a struggle. This is not a chicken or the egg scenario-the first order of business is on the coaches. If you believe it is the other way around you are mistaken.

MGoStrength

December 6th, 2019 at 6:19 PM ^

Ask yourself this...if you swapped the staff's would anything change?  If Day and his staff coached the UM team and JH and his staff coached the OSU team would anything change?  I'm going to go out on a limb and say no. 

Time after time the UFRs showed the plans were in place to be successful and the execution was not there.  There has to be some level of blame for lack of execution on the coaches, but there has to be a healthy dose on the players as well.  And, the talent discrepancy is obvious. 

We've been behind in talent to OSU since JH's arrival.  The closest we were (3 places below in the team talent composite) was 2016 and it was as close as close can be and on the road.  One could make an argument OSU has underachieved given their talent under Meyer.

Blue Middle

December 6th, 2019 at 2:53 PM ^

A few things stand out:

  • QB--I've mentioned this in other threads, but I believe McCaffrey will lead a better offense than Shea.  Patterson is a more talented passer but Dylan is better at reads and, to me, feels like a very Trace McSorley type guy that makes the right decisions, can hurt you with deep throws, and has the legs to make the QB a real weapon.
  • RB is still waiting for its first star player since...Perry?  Evans, Haskins, and Charbonnet give us three chances at a breakout RB season, but it feels like an abundance of "very good" without any "great."  Even Turner if he stays.
  • WR talent has shifted quickly.  Slot WR might be our strongest position on offense with Bell, Sainristil, and Jackson all excellent options, and more speed coming.
  • OL is not nearly as bad as it looks because an expected starter (Steuber) returns next year.  That means we're really only replacing two starters (both guards) and seem to have plenty of bullets in that chamber.  I also think this position group had the most difficult time with the schematic transition.
  • DT will be better with Smith and Hinton starting to come of age.  I sure hope Kemp gets a fifth year.
  • DE will be better with guys getting older/stronger/better and youth starting to show-up
  • LB will be better with more experience.  Could get thin on depth, though.
  • CB is the only position on defense likely to drop off, but if Thomas stays it could stay level
  • At safety, Hill is so good that I expect this group to be better on the whole.

If the offense can continue its upward trajectory, this looks like a team that can beat anyone next year but may still need OSU to have some self-inflicted wounds to win that one.

wolvorback

December 6th, 2019 at 3:24 PM ^

Too many walk-on’s being mentioned when talking about playing time.   Yes, I know that there are impactful walk-on on this team and so many more teams. 

I’m not asking for too much.  I just want all participation to be by elite players that Michigan offered scholarships to when they were in high school.  Coach them up unlock all that potential that they had when they were scouted. 

TK

December 6th, 2019 at 3:35 PM ^

If all the wide receivers return that would be a significant development. I’m wondering if there’s any actual whispers that this may happen that would cause Seth to mention this.

And in the OL I would think Steuber would have a good chance to start. I’m sure he could slide inside to a guard spot. 

Sambojangles

December 6th, 2019 at 6:53 PM ^

Players like McKeon are already declaring and signing up for the postseason showcase bowls. If Collins, DPJ, or Black are leaving we likely would have heard by now. Of course there is still a good chance they are taking more time to make the decision, but every day that goes by without an announcement is a good sign. 

Mongo

December 6th, 2019 at 3:38 PM ^

Need to get Hinton fully developed at 3Tech to be a starter.  Dwumfour was totally destroyed by OSU ... faulty technique and undersized is a bad combination against the run.   Also need someone to step up to be that run stuffer at NT like Mone was, not sure Kemp has the size to be that immovable object but he gives good effort.  Hoping Mazi Smith can mature into 325+lbs for next year when we need size in the middle.

DB situation is scary, especially depth.  Hawkins and Hill could be a decent tandem at safety, but who are the backups ?  And CB has a real talent gap ... who is the next Lavert / Jourdan type "next man up" on the current roster.  We need a grad transfer for depth and should look at the JUCO market.  There are a bunch of players available or only verbals.  Alabama, Auburn, Penn State, UCLA ... a bunch of programs are snapping up 4-star JUCO transfers.

Dizzy

December 6th, 2019 at 3:46 PM ^

I remember coming into the 2016 season feeling like that could be "the year." Lots of veterans and depth at every position; it more or less was.

This year I felt like the offense was pretty close to that level, but the defense had some holes. Don Brown did an admirable job for most of the year, but Wisconsin and Ohio State were particularly bad matchups. You're only as strong as your weakest link (DT).   

I believe the floor should be significantly higher next year at DT, with Smith, Hinton, and Kemp (hopefully) being another year in. 

Corner should be fine if Ambry comes back, but there's questionable depth. Not too many teams will be able to test it, but Ohio State can and will. 

Still, put me in the optimistic section of the fanbase. Next year's offense should be elite. I think the defense will also take another step forward. 

Michigan can win the B1G next year. I truly believe they're getting closer to Ohio State, even though the last couple years have been rough. 

Go Blue!

aiglick

December 6th, 2019 at 5:49 PM ^

The schedule lined up really nicely next year. We even get the benefit of not playing against Petersen in the opener. If we beat Washington I think we go 11-0 into Columbus. PSU and Wisconsin flip to home so I believe those games should be should wins based on recent precedent.

Unfortunately, I think it’s going to be really hard to beat the Buckeyes although I don’t know how much talent they lose. They seem to reload every year.

CriticalFan

December 10th, 2019 at 1:33 PM ^

Because Delany.

When they realigned the divisions and made the new schedules, each West team got a certain East foe 6 times in a row, and Michigan somehow got paired initially with Wisconsin. 

Why the 3rd best team in the West got matched with the best in the East, while OSU got late-Riley and early Frost Nebraska is known only to Gene Smith (and Delany.)